Improvement in locomotive-furnaces



UNITED STATES PATENT OrEroE.

THOMAS A. BUGKLAND, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCOMOTIVE-FURNACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,744, dated February 24, 1874; application filed August 25, 14873.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs A. BUOKLAND, of the city and county of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locomotive-Furnaces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figurel represents a longitudinal sectional elevation of a furnace having my invention attached. Figs. 2 and 3 represent, respectively, front and rear views of Fig. l.

Similar letters indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a means of increasing the draft of furnaces, to provide a more extended heating-surface, and to supply the fires with an ample amount of oxygen, thus insuring a more perfect combustion by consuming the gases given off during the process of combustion.

A in the several gures represents an ordinary locomotive fire-box or furnace. At the top of the fire-box, in the front of same, is a diaphragm, -B extending diagonally to a point just above the opening into the boiler-lines, and about midway of the length of the furnace. This diaphragm is preferably made of the same material as the shell of the furnace, and, being hollow, is a continuation of the water-jacket which surrounds the furnace, thus giving more heating-surface, and `also rendered less liable to be burned out by the intense heat of the furnace. Through this diaphragm are passed tubes a a', 85e., Fig. 2, a', Fig. l, one end opening into the outer air beyond the shell of the furnace, and the other into the furnace, as seen clearly in Fig. l. The entrance to these ues is regulated by a damper, C, Fig. 1, by which the draft can be effectually controlled. The diaphragm opens into the water-space not only at its top, but also at its sides. To still further increase the draft, and more surely obtain an abundant supply of oxygen, I arrange across the back of the furnace below the boiler, and extending on the sides of the furnace to a point about one-half its length, another series of iiues, b,

b', and b, Fig. 1, b3 b4 b5 b, Fig. 3, which, passing from the outside of the furn ace through a chamber, D, Fig. l, opening into the waterspace, have their inner ends open into the furnace, this ohamberD being, like the diaphragm, preferably formed of the same material as the shell of the furnace, and connected throughout its entire length with the water-space of the furnace. The openings b b', &c., are also provided with a damper or sliding plate, by which the admission of air is' regulated. E, Figs. l, 2, represents the ordinary furnace-door; and d cl', &c., the boiler-fines; and the arrows indicate the course of the draft. 4

This construction is applicable to furnaces other than locomotive,and the advantages resulting from it are equally great in such.

The diaphragm by itself, without the other set of tubes, b b', Src., may be used, if desired; but I nd the best results are attained when both are used together, though either series may be used separately, if desired.

The peculiar arrangement ofthe diaphragm and the chamber forms a throat in front of the boiler-lines, which insures the passage of the draft through the grate-bars even when theV furnace-door is opened for firing, instead of having a draft of cold air rushing in every time the door is opened, and thus lessening the combustion.

I am well aware that there is no novelty in the use of a perforated sloping diaphragm; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to Y 'b b, 85o., when combined, constructed, and operating substantially as and for the purpose shown and specied.

2. The furnace A and diaphragm B with its tubes a a', &c.,when combined, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purpose shown and specified.

T. A. BUCKLANI).

Vitnesses y SAME. S. BOYD, OHAs. D. MOODY. 

